Seed tester



Nov. 8, 1955 Filed Jan. 4, 1951 L. H. CARUFEL SEED TESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Louis H. Carufe/ INVENTOR.

BY @Mm Nov. 8, 1955 H. CARUFEL SEED TESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1951 Louis H. Carufe/ INVENTOR.

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5 d A Ilarnzyx United cs Patent SEED TESTER Louis H. Carufel, Bismarck, N. Dak., assignor to Marmar Corporation, a corporation of Minnesota Application January 4, 1951, Serial No. 204,402

1 Claim. (Cl. 4714) This invention relates to improvements in a combination toy and seed tester.

An object of this invention is to provide a device useful as a toy and also useful as a seed tester, which device is provided with an improved ventilation means whereby the air laden most heavily with moisture is retained in the casing of the device but yet there is sufficient ventilation provided for germination of the seeds in the tester.

Ancillary objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated forms of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the device consisting of the cover or top section shown in perspective with parts broken away in section, and the base or bottom section shown in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bottom section of Figure 4 with the fibrous absorbing pads therein;

Figure 6 is an end view of the device of Figure 4, with parts broken away in section to illustrate internal detail; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a part of the bottom section illustrating particularly the vent opening therein.

Both of the illustrated forms of the instant invention may be used for seed testing or may be used as a toy to interest children or adults in the growth of various plants or the like from the seed stage.

In Figs. 1-3, I have illustrated a casing 10 which consists of a top transparent section 12 and a lower, preferably opaque section 14. Both of these sections may be made of any suitable material, the preferable material being commercial plastics.

The top section includes a top panel 16, a pair of longitudinal side walls 18 and 20, together with end walls 22 and 24. The bottom section consists of a base panel 26, side panels 28 and 30, together with end members 32 and 34. The upper edges of the end members are provided with recesses 36 and 38, while the lower edges of the sides 22 and 24 are provided with tongues 40 and 42 of a size to fit in the recesses 36 and 38.

A plurality of sheets of fibrous and absorbent material, for example, certain grades of paper, are provided in the bottom section 14. There is a sheet 42 supporting a sheet 44 and having a sheet 46 disposed thereon. The sheet 46 is provided with a plurality of numbers upon which a single seed is adapted to be located. The upper two sheets 44 and 46 have one corner cut away and the lower sheet has its corner portion 48 passed through the cutaway portions for facility of removing i the plurality of sheets from the bottom section 14.

Common to both embodiments of the invention is a 2,722,778 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 means of providing ample ventilation for the seeds without exhausting an objectionable amount of the more heavily-moisture-laden air. In the instance of Figures l-3, there is an opening 50 formed in the side of the casing 10 and made by a longitudinal, recess 52 formed in the lower edge of the side wall 20 of the top section 12. Accordingly, when the top section is located on the bottom section 14, there is a ventilating opening 50 at the side of the casing as opposed to an opening located in any other place, for example, the top panel of the top section 12.

In operation of this form of the invention and the embodiment to be described subsequently, the absorbent pads are provided with an ample supply of water. Then, a number of seeds selected at random from a supply are placed upon the upper surface of the upper sheet 46. The cover is placed upon the bottom section and it may be observed how many of the seeds grow properly within the prescribed time. This test of growth of the seeds reflects the quality of the seed supply.

When the plants or the like attain the proper amount of growth, the cover section 12 may be removed to allow further growth. Children and adults observing the growth of the seeds may use the device for amusement purposes Without being concerned about testing any particular supply of seeds.

Attention is now invited to Figures 4-7. There is a bottom section 60 which is arranged to cooperate with the top section 62, both of the sections combining to form a single casing. The bottom section includes a bottom panel 64 and side walls 65, 66, 67, and 68. The sides 66 and 68 are provided with thick portions 70 and 72, at least one of which contains a vent opening 76 to allow proper ventilation when the top section 62 is in place upon the bottom section.

The top section 62 includes a top panel 78 with sides 79, 80, 81 and 82 arranged so that they are spaced inwardly a slight amount from the periphery of the top panel 78. Said sides are adapted to be fitted within the side walls 65, 66, 67, and 68 of the bottom section to thereby hold the top section in place upon the bottom or base section 60.

Several layers or sheets 84, 85 and 86 of absorbent material, preferably fibrous as the material of the previously described sheets, are disposed in the bottom section 60 and the upper surface of the top panel 86 is provided with a plurality of markings, for example, numbers, upon which seeds are adapted to be located.

The upper two sheets of fibrous material are cut away at the corners so that the corner parts 87 of the bottom sheet 84 of fibrous material may pass upwardly to thereby provide finger grips for the plurality of sheets.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A seed germinating device comprising a seed containing casing including an opaque bottom section and a complemental top section, said sections being assembled one atop the other to provide a seed germinating chamber therebetween, said top section being transparent to permit one to constantly observe the seed propagation activities and results in said chamber, moisture absorbing and releasing means comprising a plurality of laminations of absorbent material removably fitted in said bottom section, said casing having vent means in one side and located at a level between the top and bottom surfaces of said casing sections, the topmost of said laminations being provided with sequentially arranged seed spotting and identifying spaces, corner portions of the upper laminations being cut away and the lowermost lamination having an extending tongue cooperating with the cut away portions and constituting a finger tab which assists in lifting the laminations out of said bottom section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Collings June 24, 1879 Kift June 29, 1909 Kerr Mar. 8, 1932 Wernicke May 21, 1935 Stanton Nov. '28, 1944 Sanders Mar. 29, 1949 Rhodes June 7, 1949 4 FOREIGN PATENTS 116,226 Austria Feb. 10, 1930 31,273 Germany Apr. 30, 1885 122,947 Great Britain Feb. 13, 1919 OTHER REFERENCES Farmers Bulletin 253, U. S. Dept. Agr. (1906), pages 8 and 9.

Washington Post, Sunday, March 14, 1937, section F, 10 page 3, column 5. 

